What if you are reborn as a demon after a funeral?.

"And...you wanted to beat up that Ash guy, didn't you? He didn't even apologize and just ran away like that."

Recalling Ash's calm gaze followed by a smile as he silently closed the door, Frillie felt inexplicably angry. However, unable to find the person in question, she looked up at the girl standing in front of her and said with dissatisfaction, "But before that, shouldn't Philon apologize to me?"

"I'm so sorry! Hurry up and change into new clothes!"

"...It just doesn't feel very sincere."

"So now is this the time to worry about this?! What if Lord Ash comes back again? To be honest, isn't this the problem caused by you buying this filthy potion? I already said I'd return it! And you agreed to return it, right?!"

“I bought it, but I never intended to ruin it myself, so it’s all Philon’s fault.”

.......

After Ash fled the scene, Philon became increasingly agitated, and Frilian also became emotionally unstable due to her lecturing, even becoming somewhat sullen.

That look is just like... a child throwing a tantrum at their lecturing mother.

Chapter Thirty-Three: The Truth Discovered by Zanze - Even If We Can't Live in the Same Time

After leaving home, Ash, feeling that he wouldn't be able to go back anytime soon, decided to visit the Magic Association after a long absence.

"But why do I have this feeling of impending doom just from seeing the plains, even to the point where I can't go home? It feels like... such a loss!"

A moment of patience brings peace, but thinking about it... the more I think about it, the more I feel I'm at a disadvantage.

But just as he arrived at the Magic Association, before he even stepped onto the steps, he saw Zanze walking down the stairs at the very end.

His strikingly long hair immediately put his mind at ease, and he instinctively moved closer, even touching the soft hair.

Zanze stood there, his small mouth slightly agape, bewildered for a long while before finally asking, "...Lord Ash, what are you doing?"

"I was originally planning to find a place to read a book, but now that I see you, I'm thinking of having tea together or something?"

"....Why?"

"We just happened to run into you, and you're definitely okay, right?"

Before Zanze could even figure out what was going on, Ash was already enthusiastically inviting him... After all, he was just killing time anyway, so why not masturbate while reading... If he masturbated Zanze, then even reading wouldn't be so boring.

Compared to his carefree attitude, Zanze seemed particularly troubled, and couldn't help but remind him as he subconsciously followed along:

"Lord Ash...is it really appropriate for me to be in charge of the next exam?"

"It's okay, if you don't tell and I don't tell, no one will know."

"...It will definitely be discovered."

"At that time, we could have just pushed the problem onto Celia."

"...If we do that, Lady Celie will be angry."

He spoke so casually, but Zanze, just thinking about the consequences, unconsciously pursed his lips, clearly not wanting to accept Celie's dissatisfaction.

But her amusing appearance made Ash unable to resist pinching her soft cheek:

"Just kidding. If there really is a problem, just blame it on me, I'll handle it."

"...This isn't good..."

“There’s nothing wrong with it. I’m aware of my own willfulness, so you just need to shift the blame onto me.”

He laughed, patted his chest, and casually put his arm around Zanze's shoulder, pulling the legally-owned little girl along with him.

"........."

Zanze didn't speak, but just looked at him in surprise, tilting his head unconsciously.

What kind of expression is that?

"...A little surprised."

"I don't want to ask in detail, but I think you should apologize to me."

"....sorry."

Somewhat surprisingly, she actually lowered her head obediently, making Ash feel like he was bullying her.

Is this the legendary guilt? He rubbed his forehead in distress for a while, but eventually, after being silent for too long, he gave up with a sigh under the girl's tilted head gaze and silently left the scene with Zanze.

.............................

.............................

Since it wouldn't be appropriate to go anywhere, since they would probably have to explain themselves if people saw them together, the two of them went to Zanze's house together.

After all, they wouldn't be seen by outsiders at home, so their being together wouldn't raise suspicions about any behind-the-scenes manipulation during the exams. But...

"But thinking about it carefully, if it were just a normal chance encounter outside, that could be explained away, but if someone saw me entering your house with you..."

Ash surveyed the Zanze family's courtyard, and at the end of his casual remark, he smiled at the girl beside him and said, "You probably think you're trying to take advantage of me, right?"

“Ah…” Zanze stared wide-eyed in disbelief, as if he had only just thought of this possibility, which made him chuckle involuntarily: “When you accidentally mess things up or are troubled, you’re always so silent~ really… you haven’t changed in over ten years.”

"..."

Faced with this teasing, Zanze pursed his lips honestly without arguing, but simply reached out and pressed on his stomach, as if he wanted to forcibly push him out of his house.

However, as a mage, coupled with her rather petite physique, her strength was rather weak, and she couldn't move Ash at all.

Before she could come up with a better solution, she heard the voice of a mature woman behind her.

"Oh my god, Zanze—?! What are you doing?" Zanze's mother rushed in from the doorway with a shocked expression.

The sound prompted Zanze to increase her strength, but... Ash remained unmoved, making her somewhat anxious.

"Lord Ash... please get out of here quickly, otherwise things will really get complicated if someone sees us..."

"It's okay, I don't think it's a problem. If it's because Zanze is sexually harassing me, I think... it's acceptable!"

"I would never do such a thing... Besides, you're my superior, aren't you? What nonsense are you spouting? What if people misunderstand?"

"I do not mind."

Please take note.

"No."

"No...? Is this even possible?"

......

Even Zanze was speechless in the face of this impulsive guy.

Before he could even come up with a good plan to deal with this guy who had suddenly turned from a visitor into an uninvited guest, his mother had already enthusiastically grabbed his hand and led him into the house.

"Zanze is so rude! How could you push your senior brother away?" Zanze's mother scolded her daughter while giving Ash an overly bright smile.

Not content with just one hand, the lady placed her other hand on the back of his hand as well: "It's been so long! Since you're here, don't leave so soon. Stay and have lunch with us, and maybe even dinner together?"

"No... dinner didn't go quite right either..."

"It's alright, you must have come here for something important, right?"

"Not really... I just wanted to... cough, I wanted to discuss magic with Zanze."

"Really? Then don't be shy. Let me prepare some desserts first. Do you have any dietary restrictions for lunch?"

...........

Seeing his mother being even more enthusiastic than Yashu, Zanze couldn't get a word in edgewise. He just stared blankly at the two of them, speechless throughout the entire process.

Soon after, they were taken to Zanze's room.

Normally, visitors to a noblewoman's daughter's house would definitely go to the reception room. At least the last time Ash came a few years ago, he went to the Zanze family's reception room.

But now... it has become Zanze's room, and the door is even closed.

"...Your mother, aren't you afraid that strange things might happen if her daughter is alone in a room with a man?"

"......"

Perhaps his mother was anticipating something? — Recalling his mother's meaningful smile as she closed the door, Zanze was speechless and felt extremely uneasy.

But Ash didn't pay attention to her silence and began to look around her boudoir with great interest. This boudoir, which had never been entered by any man other than her family, made her feel quite uncomfortable.

.............................

Unsurprisingly, despite Zanze's cold personality, his spacious room was filled with a girlish atmosphere.

The walls are adorned with exquisite landscape paintings paired with fabrics, while on the other side is a bookcase piled high with books. In the very center is a large, carved bed covered in silk, with a dressing table not far from the headboard.

Although it was piled with books, there were surprisingly some cosmetics on it, but they showed almost no signs of being used.

The desk not only had books, but also some strange magical items, and the air in the room seemed to be filled with a faint fragrance.

This made Ash sniff carefully, and then unconsciously picked up a lock of Zanze's hair to confirm it, and then unconsciously nodded to himself:

"I knew it! You even used nice scented incense in your room? It smells different from your hair, but that means you must be wearing..."

"What...what do you want to do...?"

Like a frightened little animal, Zanze, though still expressionless, instinctively covered his chest with both hands, his beautiful long hair also covering his body as if it were alive.

"...What do you take me for? I was just expressing my feelings, I wasn't going to smell you."

“........” Zanze didn’t say anything, because she simply felt that this person was capable of anything.

Ash understood her judgment of him and knew it would be difficult to prove his innocence, so he could only shrug and say, "Don't be so wary. Even if I were, I wouldn't do anything reckless, but..."

"but....?"

"No...it's nothing."

Zanze's wary gaze prevented him from revealing his true feelings—he really wanted to... tease him a little more, and even couldn't resist the urge to hug him.

But when faced with a girl who's like a little animal, it's understandable to have thoughts like kissing, hugging, and lifting her up high, right? As long as things are kept within reasonable limits... it's just that the occasion really does matter.

So he sat obediently on the carpet by the bed, and casually patted the side, which made Zanze hesitate for a moment but still sit down next to him.

This made him instantly happy. He smiled and touched the soft, long hair, enjoying a peaceful and warm time that was quite different from home.

His mother, who didn't have much time to spare, brought cookies, desserts, and drinks... He didn't want to complain too much about why there were drinks.

But he didn't resist much, so he had lunch there and spent the whole afternoon discussing magic with Zanze, while also idly chatting about recent interesting events.

The weather in the north was indeed quite cold, but the indoor air was warm, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere between the two.